Bumper end construction



Dec. 8, 1931.

H. R. M MAHON BUMPER END CONSTRUCTION Filed May 7. 1931 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES HARRY R. MGMAHON, F CORAOPOLIS, {PENNSYLVANIA BUMPER END consrrnncmroiv] Application filed May 7, 1931. serial No. 535,642.

This invention relates to a bumper end construction and more particularly to such a construction as will provide smoothly op crating parts under all conditions, even when very tightly assembled. In certain types of bumpers the front or impact bar or bars is or are not disposed var-- tically, butvon the contrary maybe slightly inclined. In such a constructionthe use of so as in eflect to provide a rigid unyielding.

bumper, which is highlyundesirable.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a bumper end construction which obviatesthe above andother defects and disadvantages and which additionally has advantages peculiar'to itsown construce tion.

A further object is to provide a bumper end construction of the type wherein inclined or non-vertical bar ends may be used but a construction which, nevertheless, has a normal pivoting action without the accompani ment ofundesirable binding which ordinarily occurs in constructions not provided with the present invention. v

A still further object resides in providing the indicated construction with a rear bar of a modified type which'inhibits any bind ing action, but on the contrary permits the desired relative pivotal movement of the arts. I 1 Other and further objects and advantages will'be understood by those skilled in this particular field. 5

In the accompanying drawings, Ihaveillustrated certaindesirable ways of carrying outthe present invention wherein:

Fig. l is an edgewise elevational' viewof an assembled bumper end construction with the impact bars andthe rear bar shown in section.

Fig. 1a is a view at rightangles to Fig.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with certain portions omitted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1' of a modified form of the invention? Fig. 4 is-a view of the invention applied to'a difierent type of bumper construction, as

a single bar bumper; and

" Fig. 5 is a view of Fig. 4 in plan with oer tain'parts omitted,'analogous to Fig.: 2. Similar numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout'theseveral views. f In Fi "s 1, 1a and2, I have shown ny-im vention in connection with a bumper con- ,struction having a plurality of impact :bal'ls 10 the ends of which may be slightly'or somewhat inclined from the vertical (see Fig. 1d), the lower'portionoi the upper bar endand the upper portion of the lower bar end being more inwardlylocated than theupper por{ tion oftheupper bar end and the lower por tion of the lower bar end, respectively In other words, the axes of the bar ends are so inclined, to the desired degree, that they are non-vertical and slope toward the terminal of the rear bar. The lower portion of the top bar 10 and the'upper portion of the lower bar 10 is each cut away at its inner side portion to form cutouts or slots 11, of the shape shown, in the generally barrel-shaped por tions 12 which result from bending theends of the'impact bars around into substantial contact with their-own rear-surfaces. V

1 Rear ba-r 18 has its terminal bent around to form an eye or acylinderl l and instead of the rear" bar extending tangentially'from said cylindrical portion as is the case in con structionsother than my own, the rearbar extends from the central portion of the cylindrical portion, that is, in linewith'the' cen ter, as is very clearly shown in Fig. 2, for example. This rear bar 13 is so disposed that its cylindrical portion 14: is partially'inserted inthe barrel-shaped terminals 12 of the im pact bars 10 and the vertical shoulders 15 formed by the edges ofthe slots 11 form a limiting stop for the pivotalmovement of the rear bar and at the same time theopposing slots form in efi'ect a horizontal guide;

way intwhich said rear bar, in pivoting, 0p-

erate's. A suitable bolt 16 passes through the place the washer member 19 which serves to close the bottom of the construction, thus forming a practically entirely enclosed construction. While not so shown, I may, of

course, provide a suitable lockwasher be: tween the nut 20 and washer member 19.

As shown in Fig. 8, the slots 11 in the barrel-shaped terminals 12 may be substantially U-shaped, thus providing in effect vertical shoulders 15 to act as stops at each endot the pivotal movement of the rear bar, the length of the slots being variable and-designed to permit the desired degree of movement between the parts depending upon the particular bumper involved. The presence of portions of metal 21 also provides asomewhat stronger and more enclosed construction. I I In Figs. [4 and 5, I have applied thesame principle to bumpers o f the single bar type.

In these figures. it will be noted that-the single impact bar 22 has a barrel-shaped terminal 23 and a slot 24chorizontally disposed about centrally of the height of the bar through which passes the end 25 of the rear bar 26, said end being bent into a cylindrie cal portion, as shown, from which the rear bar extends centrally and not tangentially. It will be understood, thereforeythat when such an assembly is tightened the forces will be straight line centered forces and so distributed that there will be no tendency to bind the parts or to so position them as'to prevent the desired pivotal movement be tween such parts. a

This is in complete contradistinction to the prior art devices which bind or jam worse the tighter the assembly, but in the present con- 'struction due to the peculiar relationship of the parts. there is no binding tendency, but the parts can be tightened as much as possible'or desired without disturbing the capacity of the parts to move or pivot relatively under abnormal conditions, such as when an impact occurs. 7

I do not intend that the above shall be precisely limited to that shown, but the same may be adapted wherever the principles herein involved are encountered .While I have shown the impact bars of Fig. 1 as being plano-convex I am not, of course,limited to such a construction nor am I limited to a concavoeconvexbar as shown in Fig. 4. l/Vhatever'the cross-sectional configuration of the bars, they may be utilized in connection with the present invention provided that theirends are somewhat inclined from the true vertical in which latter event my invention finds most usefulness.

While I have shown only one end construction, this is for simplicity and convenience and the other end construction is identical thereto, except, of course, that it is of opposite hand. i

The slot of Fig. 4 may extend to the end of the material of the terminal as in Fig. 1, and the rear bar, while narrower preferably than the front bar, may be wider than the slot, in which case a construction similar to that of an application to Harry E. Figgie,

' Serial No. 535,629, filed May 7 1931, may be utilized. I v i l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure byiLetters Patent is: i

1.v In a bumper construction, a plurality of impact bars having their ends inclined from the'vertical and having terminal portions, arear bar having a terminal portion inter posed between the terminal portions of the impact bars the rear bar ext-ending centrally fromits. terminal, and means-for pivotally securing said members in operative as, sembly. g V

In a bumper construction, a plurality of impact barsv having, their ends inclined from the vertical and having terminal por-v tions, a rear barhaving a terminal portion interposed between the terminal portions of the impact bars from which. therear bar extends centrallygand means for pivotally securmgsaid; members in operative assembly, the terminal portion of said rear bar being cylindrical and fitting partly within each of the terminals of the impact bars. 7 w

- 3. In a bumper construction, a plurality of impact bars having their ends inclined from the vertical and having barrel-shaped terminal portions, a rear bar having a terminal interposed between the terminals of the im-. pact bars from which saidrear bar extends centrally, said barrel-shaped terminals having slotsfor guiding and limiting the movement of said rear bar, and means for pivotally connecting said members. in operative assembly. o

4. In a bumper. construction, a plurality of impact barshaving their ends inclined from the vertical and having barrel-shaped terminal portions, a rear bar having a terminal interposed between the terminals of the impact bars from which said rear bar extends centrally, said barrel-shaped terminals having slots for guiding and limitingthe movement of said rearlbar, and means for pivotally connecting saidmembersin operf ative assembly, said rear bar terminal-being cylindrical. 1

' .1 5. In a bumper construction, a pairof'impactbars, having their :ends inclined from the vertical, said bars also having their ends bent around to form barrel-shaped terminals provided with oppositely disposed horizontal 7 slots, a rear bar having a cylindrical terminal disposed partly within the barrel-shaped terminals of said impact bars and from which said rear bar extends centrally, said slots guiding and limiting the movement of said rear bar and means for pivotally connecting said members in operative assembly free from binding action.

6. In a bumper construction, a pair of impact bars, having their ends inclined from the vertical, said bars also having their ends bent around to form barrel-shaped terminals provided with oppositely disposed horizontal slot-s, a rear bar having a cylindrical terminal disposed partly within the barrel-shaped terminals of said impact bars and from which said rear bar extends centrally, said slots guiding and limiting the movement of said rear bar and means for pivotally connecting said members in operative assembly free from binding action, said slots being substantially U-shaped.

7 Ina bumper construction, a plurality of impact bars having their ends inclined from the vertical and havingterminal portions each provided with a slot, a rear bar having a terminal portion, interposed between the terminal portions of the impact bars, from which the rear bar extends centrally, and means for pivotally securing said members in operative assembly, the'terminal portion of said rear bar being cylindrical and fitting partly within'each of the terminals of the impact bars, said slots being substantially U-shaped.

8. In a bumper construction, an impact bar having its end inclined from the vertical and bent around to form a barrel-shaped terminal having a. horizontally disposed slot therein, a rear bar having a terminal disposed within said barrel-shaped terminal and from which said rear bar extends centrally, said slot guidi ng and limiting the movement of said rear bar and means for pivotally connecting said rear bar in operative association with said impact bar so as to be free from binding action.

9. In a bumper construction, an impact bar having its end bent around to form a barrelshaped terminal having a horizontally disposed slot therein, a rear bar having a terminal disposed within said barrel-shaped ter: minal and from which said rear bar extends centrally, said slot guiding and limiting the movement of said rear bar and meansfor pivotally connecting said rear bar in operative association with said impact bar so as to be free from binding action, said impact bar end being inclined slightly from the vertical, and said rear bar terminal being cylindrical.

10. In a bumper construction, a plurality of impact bars having their ends inclined from the vertical and having barrel shaped terminal portions, a rear bar having a terminal interposed between the terminals of the impact bars from which said rearbar extends centrally, said barrel-shaped terminals having slots for guiding and limiting the movement of said rear bar, and means for pivotally connecting said members in operative assembly, said rear bar terminal being cylindrical, said slot being situated about centrally of theheight of said barrel-shaped terminal and optionally extendingto the end of said terminal.

11. In a bumper construction, a plurality of impact bars, each such bar having its ends bent around to form barrel shaped terminals, each such terminal having its axis inclined from the vertical, a rear bar having its ends bent around to form cylindrical terminals such that the rear bar extends centrally from its terminals, end constructions being formed I from a non-binding pivoting of operatively associated impact and rear bar terminals.

12. In a bumper construction, a plurality of impact bars, each such bar having its ends bent around to form barrel-shaped terminals, each such terminal having its axis inclined from the vertical, a rear bar having-its ends bent around to form cylindrical terminals such that the rear bar extends centrally from its terminals in effect constituting a continuation of a diameter of said-terminals, end constructions being formed from a non-binding pivoting of operatively associated impact and rear bar terminals. l

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 4th day of May, 1931. c

' HARRY R. MGMAHON. 

